First bricks laid for Ram temple, Modi says long wait over

RAM TEMPLE WILL BE MODERN SYMBOL OF INDIA'S CULTURE, INSPIRE HOPE, DEVOTION, DETERMINATION: MODI

06/08/2020

AYODHYA, Aug 5: In a highly-anticipated event watched by millions on television, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday laid the foundation here of a Ram temple, the culmination of a campaign that fuelled the rise of the BJP and marked the fulfilment of one of its core poll promises.
Amid the chanting of shlokas, Modi consecrated the very first bricks for the temple at the spot where many devout Hindus believe Lord Ram was born.
The wait of centuries has ended, he said after performing the groundbreaking ceremony, made possible by a Supreme Court verdict last year that allowed the construction of the temple at the site where the Babri mosque was demolished by kar sevaks in 1992.
The day also coincided with the first anniversary of the abrogation of provisions of Article 370, scrapping the special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi described Ram as the common thread in India's unity in diversity, and drew a parallel between the country's independence movement and "centuries" of people's struggle to build the temple at Ram Janmabhoomi.
He cited values associated with Ram and said, "We have to take care of everyone's sentiments.
"We have to join stones for the construction of the Ram temple with mutual love, brotherhood," he said.
Modi started and ended his speech with chants of Siyavar Ramchandra Ki Jai and Jai Siya Ram . Lord Ram's goddess wife Sita is also known as Siya.
"We have to bring development to everyone with everyone's trust and help. It should be kept in mind that progress has taken place when humanity believed in Ram but destruction has happened when we strayed from his path," he added.
He told the gathering that a grand temple will now be built for Ram Lalla , the infant Ram, who had been living in a temporary tent for years.
Many people made sacrifices for the Ram temple. I pay my respects to all of them, he said.
Some Ram Janmabhoomi movement leaders, including former deputy prime minister L K Advani, were not at the venue where the organisers had invited only 175 people.
The guest list was short because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the invitees sat on chairs placed apart to maintain social distancing.
Noting that the country was witnessing "a golden, historic" moment with the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said it will become a modern symbol of India's culture, a symbol of eternal hope and national feeling and of the collective strength of crores of citizens.
The Prime Minister, who laid the foundation stone of the temple amid chanting of mantras at a special ceremony, said it should be built with bricks of love, respect and brotherhood there was need to respect the sentiments of all. Noting that Lord Ram advocated change and modernity, he talked of his government's slogan of "sabka saath, sabka vishawas" and said a self-reliant and self-confident India has be to built through determination and hard work.
In his nearly half-an-hour speech, the Prime Minister recited several couplets about Lord Ram's life and his teachings.
"Shree Ram Temple would be the modern symbol of our culture and I am intentionally using the word 'modern'. It will symbolise our eternal hope. It will epitomise our national feeling. This temple will be the emblem of the collective will power of millions of people. This shrine would inspire hope, devotion and determination in the minds of the future generations," the Prime Minister said.
He said India is witnessing a golden historic moment with the blessings of the mighty Lord Bhaskara (sun) on the banks of the auspicious river Saryu and the process of temple construction will foster national unity.
"Across the length and breadth of India, from Kanyakumari to KsheerBhawani, from Koteshwar to Kamakhya, from Jagannath to Kedarnath, from Somnath to Kashi Vishwanath, SametShikhar to ShrawanBelagola, from Bodhgaya to Sarnath, from Amritsar to Patna Sahib, from Andaman to Ajmer, from Lakshadweep to Leh, the entire country is encompassed by and for Lord Ram," he said.
The Prime Minister said a grand temple for Ram Lalla will be constructed in place of tents now.
"The whole country is ecstatic and each heart is illuminated. The entire country is emotional and overwhelmed to be a part of history and witness this long-awaited historic moment. The centuries of wait is getting over today. Crores of Indians, I am sure, are unable to believe that they could be a part of such a momentous occasion in their lifetimes. Time has come when a proper temple can be provided to Lord Ram by moving it from the makeshift tent and canopy, where it was kept for decades. A grand temple will now be built for our Lord Rama. Today, the Ram Janmabhoomi has become free from the centuries-old chain of destruction and resurrection," he said.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust head Nritya Gopal Das were on the dais along with the PM.
Sending out the message that "Ram is everywhere, Ram belongs to all", Modi said the temple symbolises India's rich heritage and will be an inspiration to all of humanity.
He said the more powerful India gets, the more it will be loved and remain peaceful.
"Social harmony was the core principle of Lord Ram's governance," the prime minister said.
The construction of the Ram temple is an instrument to unite the country, he said, adding that it will lift the economy of the entire region.
He also released a postage stamp to commemorate the event.
The ceremony marked Modi's return to Ayodhya 28 years after he accompanied the then BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi on his Tiranga Yatra . He also played a role in Advani's `rath yatra' to mobilise support for building the temple in Ayodhya.
RSS chief Mohan said the Sangh's three-decade-old pledge was now being realised.
"When we took the pledge, our then Sangh chief Balasahab Deoras had told us we would have to work hard continuously for 20-30 years and we did," he said.
The groundbreaking was celebrated with smaller events elsewhere -- from the blowing of a conch at a jewellery shop beyond the barricades in Ayodhya itself to more elaborate rituals in Delhi's Chattarpur temple complex.
Devotees started arriving there around 6 am, just after the morning puja ended, temple's administrator Kishor Chawla said.
"A puja has been going on non-stop for three days. The 'Ram darbar' has been decorated. A replica of the 'shila' (foundation stone) has been prepared and it will be sent to Ayodhya along with other material," he said.
President Ram Nath Kovind said the foundation-laying ceremony defines India's spirit of harmony.
Being built in tune with law, it defines India's spirit of social harmony and people's zeal. It will be a testimony to ideals of RamRajya and a symbol of modern India," he tweeted.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Ram is the ultimate embodiment of supreme human values.
"Ram is love, he can never appear in hatred. Ram is compassion, he can never appear in cruelty. Ram is justice, he can never appear in injustice," he said.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the prime minister's participation at the bhoomi pujan went against the Constitution, and marked the victory of majoritariansim.
Today is a victory of Hindutva over secularism, he said.
Last November, the Supreme Court ruled that a Ram temple can be build at the site where the 16th century Babri mosque was demolished in December 1992.
While allotting the Ram Janmabhoomi site for a temple to be built by a trust, it ordered that a five-acre plot should be found elsewhere in Ayodhya for a new mosque.

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